Single and multi-modulator projector systems with global dimming

ABSTRACT

Projector display systems comprising a light dimmer and first modulator are disclosed. The light dimmer may comprise an adjustable iris, adjustable light sources and/or LCD stack that is capable of lowering the luminance of the light source illuminating the first modulator. A second modulator may be provided. The first modulator may comprise a plurality of analog mirrors (e.g. MEMS array) and the second modulator may comprise a plurality of mirrors (e.g., DMD array). The display system may further comprise a controller that sends control signals to the light dimmer and first modulator. The display system may render a desired dynamic range for rendering a projected image by a combination of such control signals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/899,865 filed 4 Nov. 2013 and 61/988,692 filed 5 May2014, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to displays systems and, moreparticularly, to projector display systems having Enhanced Dynamic Range(EDR) capability.

BACKGROUND

In a conventional projector system, there is typically a single lightsource that illuminates a screen with an image that is modulated by someoptical system within the projector. Increasingly, it is desirable toconstruct projector systems that have the ability to project images withan Enhanced Dynamic Range (EDR). Such EDR projector displays maytypically have a contrast ratio that exceeds typical cinema standards ormodern displays including contrast ratios of more than 5,000 to 1 andmay be 1,000,000 to 1 and higher in some circumstances. Such displaysmay also have a color gamut that exceeds current cinema standards.

SUMMARY

Several embodiments of display systems and methods of their manufactureand use are herein disclosed.

Projector display systems comprising a light dimmer and first modulatorare disclosed. The light dimmer may comprise an adjustable iris,adjustable light sources and/or LCD stack that is capable of loweringthe luminance of the light source illuminating the first modulator. Thefirst modulator may comprise a plurality of analog mirrors (e.g. MEMSarray) and the second modulator may comprise a plurality of mirrors(e.g., DMD array). The display system may further comprise a controllerthat sends control signals to the light dimmer and first modulator. Thedisplay system may render a desired dynamic range for rendering aprojected image by a combination of such control signals.

In one embodiment, a projector display system comprises: a light source;a controller; a light dimmer, said light dimmer being illuminated bysaid light source and said light dimmer being controlled by thecontroller to dim the amount of light from the light source; a firstmodulator, said first modulator being illuminated by light from saidlight dimmer and capable of modulating light from said light dimmerunder control from the controller. The controller may further comprise:a processor; a memory, said memory associated with said processor andsaid memory further comprising processor-readable instructions, suchthat when said processor reads the processor-readable instructions, theinstructions cause the processor to perform the following steps:receiving image data, said image data comprising Enhanced Dynamic Range(EDR) image data; sending control signals to said light dimmer such thatsaid light dimmer may allocate a desired proportion of the light fromsaid light source onto said first modulator; and sending control signalsto said first modulator such that said desired proportion of the lightfrom said light source is modulated to form the desired screen image.

Other features and advantages of the present system are presented belowin the Detailed Description when read in connection with the drawingspresented within this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of thedrawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosedherein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a projector display system comprising aniris to affect global dimming that may be suitable for the systems,methods and techniques of the present application disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of projector display system comprisingan iris for more than one color channel to affect global dimming as madein accordance with the principles of the present application.

FIG. 3 depicts-yet another embodiment of a projector display systemcomprising an iris in more than one color channel which is split from aset of colored light sources.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict other embodiments of projector display systemscomprising an integrating rod and a modulator in the path of theintegrating rod where the integrating rod may be either a unitary lightpipe or segmented.

FIG. 5 depicts one exemplary dynamic range mapping that may be affectedby a projector system as made in accordance with the principles of thepresent application.

FIG. 6 depicts one high-level diagram of an image processing system thatmay affect processing by a projector system as made in accordance withthe principles of the present application.

FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of a dual modulator projector system witha single global dimming iris dimming all the light sources.

FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a dual modulator projector systemcomprising an iris for more than one color channel to affect globaldimming at the emitting end of a set of light sources.

FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment of a multi-modulator projector systemwith a set of global dimming iris at the emitting end of a set of lightsources.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in theart. However, well known elements may not have been shown or describedin detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly,the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative,rather than a restrictive, sense.

As utilized herein, terms “component,” “system,” “interface,”“controller” and the like are intended to refer to a computer-relatedentity, either hardware, software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware.For example, any of these terms can be a process running on a processor,a processor, an object, an executable, a program, and/or a computer. Byway of illustration, both an application running on a server and theserver can be a component and/or controller. One or morecomponents/controllers can reside within a process and acomponent/controller can be localized on one computer and/or distributedbetween two or more computers.

The claimed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however,that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subjectinnovation.

Global Dimming EDR Projector Embodiment

EDR projector systems and dual modulation projector systems have beendescribed in commonly-owned patents and patent applications, including:

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 8,125,702 to Ward et al., issued on Feb. 28, 2012 andentitled “SERIAL MODULATION DISPLAY HAVING BINARY LIGHT MODULATIONSTAGE”;

(2) United States Patent Application 20130148037 to Whitehead et al.,published on Jun. 13, 2013 and entitled “PROJECTION DISPLAYS”

(3) United States Patent Application 20130147777 to Lau et al.,published on Jun. 13, 2013 and entitled “APPLICATION OF MEMS PIXELS INDISPLAY AND IMAGING DEVICES”; and

(4) United States Patent Application 20120038693 to Kang et al.,published on Feb. 16, 2012 and entitled “HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PROJECTIONSYSTEM”.

-   -   which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In many of those EDR systems, there may be a dual modulator architecturethat effects EDR projection. For example, one system may comprise one ormore DMDs that may separately modulate light from a light source andproduce EDR projection by locally dimming portions of an input screenimage.

As discussed further herein, there are systems, techniques and methodsfor performing a global dimming that may affect EDR projection ofdesired screen images.

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a projector system that may effect EDRprojection by employing global dimming with use of an iris. Projector100 comprises a light source—in this example, a bank of laser lightsources 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 and 102-1′, 102-2′ and 102-3′—which mayfurther comprise two (or more) RGB laser light sources. It should beappreciated that other light sources may be employed that are also knownin the art—e.g., a Xenon lamp, an array of lasers (e.g., diodes orotherwise) or other solid-state light emitters, an arc lamp, or thelike.

Light from light source 102 may be directed along an optical path (e.g.,an integrating rod 104 in the embodiment of FIG. 1) and encounter aniris 106. In some embodiments, the light source may be modulated undercontrol of controller 101. Iris 106 may (under control from controller101) expand and/or constrict the amount of light in the path todesirably affect a global dimming of the projector system. Thereafter,the light 109 may continue along an optical path further (e.g.,integrating rod 108) to a first modulator. In the embodiment of FIG. 1,first modulator 110 may comprise one (or more) DMD arrays. In thisexample there are three DMD arrays 110-1, 110-2 and 110-3 (oralternatively, a three chip DLP assembly) respectively, as opticalcomponents 112 may split the incoming white light into its spectralcomponents (e.g. red, green and blue respectively). Iris 106 may be oneexample of a light dimmer for the projector system that dims the lightfrom the light source of the system. Another example of a suitable lightdimmer may be an adjustable light source that may adjust luminancelevels under control of controller 101.

First modulator 110 may thereafter affect a desired modulation (undercontrol from controller 101) of light—such that, when projected (113)through projector optics 114 may affect a desired projected image on ascreen (not shown) to one or more viewers. In one alternativeembodiment, the off state light may also be recycled—providing anothercontrol parameter for the iris. In the case of recycling, the light maylikely be split into individual spectrums for each of the modulators.However, the modulator requiring the most light may drive the irisrequirements.

Alternative Global Dimming EDR Projector Embodiment

As an alternative to performing global dimming on the white light from alight source, it is possible to perform global dimming on the differentspectral channels that may be provided by a projector system. FIG. 2 isan alternative embodiment projector system comprising a light source 202(which may be modulated under control of controller 201). As before,light source 202 may be any source of light possible that may be splitinto its spectral components. In FIG. 2, light source 202 is a bank oflaser light sources (e.g., red, green and blue laser light). Lightemitted by the laser light sources may be transmitted along light fibers204 r, g and b, respectively. For each (or some) color channel, theremay be a set of irises 206 r, g and b, respectively. These irises may beunder control of controller 201—such that each light channel mayexperience a global dimming of the light channel respectively.

Thereafter, the light may be combined in a light combiner (e.g., anintegrating rod 208) and—as before—light may illuminate first modulator210 that may comprise one (or more) DMD arrays. Here, as before, thereare three DMD arrays (or alternatively, a three chip DLP assembly)respectively, as the optical components may split the incoming whitelight into its spectral components (e.g. red, green and bluerespectively). As examples of other embodiments to FIGS. 1 and 2, asecond modulator (not shown—but similar to 110 and/or 210) maythereafter effect another desired modulation (under control fromcontroller 201) of light—such that, when projected through projectoroptics 214 may effect a desired projected image on a screen (not shown)to one or more viewers.

FIG. 3 is yet another embodiment of a projector system that affectsglobal dimming on separate color channels. Projector system 300 maycomprise a white light source 302 (from any known source, e.g., xenonlamp, arc lamp or the like). Dichroic beam splitters 303 and 305 areable to split the green, red and blue light onto their separate opticalpaths. Irises 306 r, g and b may affect the desired global dimming onthese separate color channels. The resulting light may be placed intooptical paths 308 r, g and b respectively—and thereafter, may beseparately modulated (by Mod, for each respective channel, as is knownin the art). Light from these separately modulated optical paths may besent along optical paths 309 r, g and b, respectively—and recombined asdesired to form a combined light beam.

Alternative Embodiments for Light Integration and Modulation

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict another embodiment for modulating and integratingthe light from the light source. FIG. 4A depicts that—prior to lightentering an integrating rod 108 (or any other suitable light pipe and/orconduit)—there may be placed prior to the rod 108, an LCD stack 402. LCDstack 402 may further comprises a first polarizing layer 404, an LCD 406and a second polarizing layer 408. LCD stack 402 may be under control bycontroller 101 and may provide an additional point of modulation of thelight, as may be desired.

FIG. 4B depicts one embodiment in which the LCD stack may be partitioneditself (e.g. 402-1, 402-2, 402-3 and 402-4—or any other number ofpartitions)—so that the light entering into integrating rod 108 may bedimmed according to the individual LCD stacks that are in the opticalpath. Integrating rod 108 in this instance may itself be so partitionedand/or segmented and the light from that partitioning and/orsegmentation may illuminate different areas of the projection screenitself, to effect a regional dimming of the projector system.

Global Dimming Image Processing Embodiments

In one embodiment, methods for determining global (and/or regional)brightness levels for a frame or scene may be effected to achieve adesired projected image to be displayed. These methods may beimplemented based on a per-frame and/or a per-scene basis. These methodsmay employ histogram and/or metadata in order to affect this processing.For merely one aspect, these methods may provide a smooth transitionbetween brightness levels in a frame. In some embodiments, variations inthe gradient of the brightness level changes may be implemented forscene changes, different types of scene changes, and/or different typesof brightness level changes that may occur within a scene. In anotherembodiment, these methods may include R, G, B independent illuminationadjustments with or without having entire scene knowledge. Methods nothaving entire scene knowledge may employ techniques such as, e.g.,analyzing the current frame or nearby frames (either before/after).

The brightness levels may be registered to regions via, for example, asegmented light pipe, and the brightness levels may then beanalyzed—e.g., based on similar factors and also with respect to othersegments in the same or temporally related frames. In addition, ahistogram may be calculated or provided via metadata encoded in theimage data (and/or provided from a separate source) of frame data orregionally based frame data.

Other alternative embodiments may employ intelligent guessing (e.g., AI,heuristics) to determine scene changes or special regionally based caseswhere viewers may be more tolerant to abrupt brightness changes. Inanother embodiment, metadata based on off-line processing orpost-production tweaking or intervention may be included in meta-dataencoded or provided separately. Further information may be provided fortransitions from high dynamic range (HDR) to low dynamic range (LDR) forbackward compatibility with legacy systems or to provide special newfeatures such as enhanced higher dynamic range, enhanced 3D, etc.

In one embodiment, metadata may be provided in a separate file alongwith keys for unlocking frame content or various features to show themovie with enhancements provided by special processing of the contentand/or as directed by the metadata. In an extension, the brightnessparameters may be provided to adjust all the primaries at once or inpairs or any other grouping combination when using source adjustment.

For the various embodiments described herein with an iris, these methodsmay be utilized by adjusting the primaries—e.g., the iris can beadjusted instead of the sources. While potentially less efficient, itallows for the panel contrast to be applied over a larger brightnessrange (e.g., increasing sequential contrast) and may improvesimultaneous on screen contrast by reducing the aperture size in theprojection lens (e.g., corner box and ANSI contrast).

R, G, B Independent Illumination Adjustment without Entire SceneKnowledge

For merely two embodiments of methods to employ on a RGB (or otherspectral separation scheme) that may not have entire scene knowledge,the display system may effect one or both methods during the course ofprocessing as follows:

-   -   (1) Analyze the current image frame to determine color gamut        volume; in particular the maximum contribution required for each        individual primary channel (e.g., individually controllable        illumination source of fixed wavelength range). Use these        maximum requirements to set the levels of each individual        primary.    -   (2) Analyze the current image frame and frames before and/or        after to determine the maximum requirements over time and        provide a more smooth transition of illumination adjustments        over time.

It may be possible to use either method above if there are individuallycontrollable illumination sources for each primary and each of thosesources can be registered to a portion of the modulation device (e.g.,using a method like a segmented integrating rod). A maximum requirementcalculation may be done on a regional basis associated with eachindividually controllable source. This may tend to provide enhancedsimultaneous contrast if used properly in conjunction with other dualmodulation compensation algorithms to remove errors associated withsegment boundaries.

These adjustments may tend to reduce power consumption and prolonglifetime. In addition, these adjustments may allow the panel contrast tobe applied over a larger brightness range (e.g., improved sequentialcontrast).

Primary Independent Illumination Adjustment with Entire Scene Knowledge:

In those embodiments in which the system has entire (or substantiallyall) scene knowledge, then one suitable method may employ histogram dataand desired mapping parameters to the illumination adjustmentalgorithm—possibly by means of metadata.

In another embodiment, it may be possible to delay playback of enoughframes to calculate a smooth transition of the illumination sources overtime. However, even if this was implemented, it may do so withoutknowledge of the scene cut locations and may need to rely on intelligentguessing to know when more abrupt changes would be tolerated. Byproviding histograms for each scene, a suitable method may allow forillumination sources to have adjustment profiles which may implementabrupt changes in addition to removing the need to delay and analyze thecontent.

Histograms—even with scene knowledge which may be automaticallygenerated—tend to lack the ability to provide the ideal mappingpreferences when transforming high dynamic range content to lowerdynamic range displays. EDR metadata may be generated with the knowledgeof these preferences directly from creative interaction. As such, usingmetadata with desired mapping parameters may further enhance theillumination level adjustments to produce a final sequence of imageswhich substantially represent the creative intent independent of thedisplay's overall performance.

In yet another embodiment, it may be possible to adjust all theprimaries at once or in pairs or any other grouping combination whenusing source adjustment. In addition, all the illumination exiting theprojection lens may be adjusted using an adjustable iris under algorithmcontrol, as described herein. In some embodiments, it may be possible toadjust the source, adjust the irises, or some combination of both.

These methods involving illumination adjustment may allow for the panelcontrast to be applied over a larger brightness range (e.g., increasingsequential contrast) and may improve simultaneous-on-screen contrast byreducing the aperture size in the projection lens (e.g., corner box andANSI contrast).

Dynamic Range Mapping Embodiments

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict one example and embodiment of image processingwhere the dynamic range mapping may occur in a system that may compriseadjustable irises and/or adjustable light (e.g. laser and/or LED)systems. These systems may employ the current frame (or a few framesbefore or after) to determine the iris or LED settings. In some suchsystems, it may not be possible to have knowledge of the entirescene—and thus adjustments may be made which adversely affect the viewerexperience. To improve viewer experience, it may be possible to employalgorithms using the knowledge gain developing display management.

FIG. 5 depicts a dynamic range mapping 500 that illustrates severalembodiments. The potential full dynamic range (Min to Max) of the inputimage content (501) may be particularly large. If the dynamic range ofthe current content to be rendered is shown at 504, then the content isasking for very bright content to be rendered. However, the dark valuesin the content will be rendered relatively brightly as well. The displaysystem may be able to adjust the luminance level to range 506 (e.g., viathe dimming techniques (irises and/or adjustable light source, describedherein) to achieve darker values with a maximum value that may besuitable for rendering.

FIG. 6 is one embodiment of a method that may be suitable to affect theimage processing for projector systems described herein. In particular,FIG. 6 illustrates example processing and light modulation paths in apresent display system with global light modulation capability. In someembodiments, the processing path includes a global modulation driver(602) and a display management module (604) that are respectivelyconfigured to control light generation components, light modulationcomponents (612), light control components (610), etc., in theprojection path for the purpose of rendering LDR images on a displayscreen (606). The light modulation components (612) may be, but are notlimited to, Digital Light Processing (DLP)/Liquid Crystal on Silicon(LCoS)/Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based light modulation components.The light control components (610) may be but are not limited to aglobal aperture, a global iris, etc., and are controlled in part by asetting of global light modulation. The LDR images are derived to alarge extent by perceptually accurately adjusting input code values inVDR input images which may be received in a video signal input of a widedynamic range.

In the processing path, a VDR input image in the video signal input isanalyzed by the global modulation driver (602) to determine a luminancelevel distribution (e.g., histogram, tables, etc.) of the VDR inputimage, and to determine an optimal dynamic range window (which is aninstance of the LDR under a specific setting of global light modulation)to which input code values in the VDR input image are mapped. Thedetermination of the optimal dynamic range window includes adetermination of absolute minimum and maximum luminance levels to begenerated by a global light source module (608) and/or by global lightmodulating components such as a global aperture, a global iris, etc. Theglobal modulation driver (602) can be configured to perform light sourcecontrol operations as well as perform control operations of the globallight modulation components (612), and to modulate global amount oflight to illuminate one or more local modulation layers for the purposeof rendering an LDR image—which corresponds to the VDR input image—onthe display screen (606). In some embodiments, the global modulationdriver (602) can also be configured to perform laser modulation controlas a part of global or local light modulation.

The display management module (604) of FIG. 6 can be configured tocontinuously update its input parameters such as the minimum and maximumluminance levels of optimal dynamic range windows. In some embodiments,the minimum and maximum luminance levels of the optimal dynamic rangewindows vary as functions of settings of global light modulation fromimage to image. Specific settings of global light modulation depend onimage data of specific VDR input images and are used to place the lightsource module (608) and light modulation components (612) in specificstates to produce specific minimum and maximum luminance levels andoptimal dynamic ranges.

The display management module (604) of FIG. 6 can be configured toperform continuous adjustment between the input code values in VDR inputimages and output code values in corresponding LDR images. The displaymanagement module (604) can be configured to perceptually map input codevalues in a VDR input image into a specific optimal dynamic range windowdetermined based on the VDR input image. Pixel adjustments generated ordetermined by the display management module (604) can be used to controlpixel-level or pixel-block-level light modulation components (612) torender on a display screen (606) a perceptually correct LDR imagecorresponding to the VDR input image.

To avoid “pumping” artifacts (e.g., unintended oscillations or suddenshifts of absolute minimum and maximum luminance levels in consecutivedynamic range windows, etc.), temporal dampening can be applied so thattwo different dynamic range windows can transition into each otherrelatively gradually, for example, in a time interval 0.5 second, 1second, 3 seconds, etc., rather than suddenly, perceptually speaking.

The display system is configured to determine/select a dynamic rangewindow for a VDR input image and to identify/determine an input codevalue range for perceptual preservation in the dynamic range window. Forexample, the display system can determine a luminance level distributionof the VDR input image, select the dynamic range window to cover as muchin the luminance level distribution as possible, and determine, based onthe display system's global light modulation capability, a particularsetting of global light modulation to produce the dynamic range window.Luminance levels in the luminance level distribution may be weighteddifferently. Luminance levels that have relatively large numbers ofpixels are assigned relatively high weights in relation to otherluminance levels that have relatively small numbers of pixels. Thedisplay system may be biased to select the dynamic range window to covermore luminance levels that have relatively numerous pixels. Further, thedisplay system can use the luminance level distribution to identify theinput code value range for perceptual preservation in the dynamic rangewindow.

The display system may be configured to minimize the number of“out-of-range” pixels outside the input code value range for perceptualpreservation and/or minimize the number of levels that need luminancecompression. The display system may be configured to minimize the numberof luminance levels that needed luminance compression (e.g., throughtone-mapping, display management operations including but not limited tothose developed by Dolby Laboratories, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.,etc.).

The display system can perceptually and accurately adjust the input codevalues of in-range pixels to output code values, and map the input codevalues of out-of-range pixels to output code values with compressedluminance levels through tone-mapping, etc.

Operations to select optimal dynamic range windows to cover at leastsalient portions of VDR input images and operations to set settings ofglobal light modulation are correlated. A feedback loop may beimplemented between the display management module (604) and the globalmodulation driver (602) to continuously select dynamic range windows andset settings of global light modulation. As a result, perceptuallycorrect images can be maintained even when the overall luminance levelsof VDR input images change over time.

VDR luminance levels of in-range pixels of a VDR input image can beperceptually maintained by LDR luminance levels in one or more portionsof a dynamic range window reserved for perceptual preservation.Depending on the dynamic ranges of the VDR input images as received bythe display system, it is possible that certain VDR luminance levels ofthe VDR input image still lie outside of the selected dynamic rangewindow and thus still end up clipped or compressed. The clipping andcompression of some VDR luminance levels can be perceptually hidden bymapping those VDR luminance levels into LDR luminance levels in someportions of the dynamic range window reserved for display management. Atany given time, zero or more portions of a dynamic range window reservedfor display management and one or more portions of the dynamic rangewindow reserved for perceptual preservation constitute the entiredynamic range window.

Dual Modulator Projector Systems with Global Dimming

FIG. 7 is one embodiment of a dual modulator display system 700 thatcomprises a light source 702 (and in this embodiment, different laserlight source banks 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 702-1′, 702-2′ and 702-3′).Emitted light may be combined at integrating rod 704-1, globally dimmedby iris 704 and continue through pipe 704-2. Light path 703 may haveoptical components 706 prior to illuminating first modulator (e.g.,pre-modulator) 708 that may comprise a three chip modulator 708-1,708-2, 708-3. First modulator 708 may form the pre-mod image (or, also,highlights as a highlights modulator) to create the light field for thesecond and/or primary modulator 716. Prior to second/primary modulator716, the light may be blurred through optics assembly 712 which manycomprise optical components 710 and 714. As mentioned, first modulator708 may effect a number of light processing operations—such as, e.g., ahalf-tone pre-modulator, a highlights modulator, or any combinationthereof.

Light may dumped to Offstate Lights 1 and 2, as desired. Once desiredlight makes it into projected image illumination 713, this light maypass through a projector lens system 718 to produce the final projectedimage to be viewed. As noted, various components may be under control ofcontroller 720 including first and second modulators (708 and 716), thelight sources (702)—as well as the iris (704) itself.

FIG. 8 is yet another embodiment of a dual modulator system as depictedin FIG. 7—with the exception that the light coming from light source 802may be partitioned into its constituent colors—e.g., red (804-r), green(804-g) and blue (804-b)—and each color channel may be separately dimmedvia irises 806 r, 806 g, and 806 b. The numbering of elements in FIG. 8follow the numbering in FIG. 7 (e.g., first modulator 808 in FIG. 8 maycomprise the same or similar components to first modulator 708 in FIG.7—and so on.).

FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of a dual/multi-modulator projectordisplay system. The display system of FIG. 9 may comprise substantiallythe same configuration as FIG. 8 for the first part of the lightpath—e.g., 902, 904-x, 906-x correspond with those elements of FIG. 8.Combined beam 904 may then processed by adjustable polarizer 905—whichmay be used in conjunction with polarizing beam splitter 906.

Split beam 908 may be reflected by mirror assembly 910 to apre-modulator and/or highlight modulator 912. This first modulator 912may have the same or similar processing as mentioned, for example, withrespect to modulator 708 or 808 above. In one embodiment, modulator 912may create a non-uniform light field for modulator 918 as describedherein—which may be combined with uniform light field. It should benoted that modulator 912 may be again be a pre-modulator and/or ahighlights modulator. In one embodiment, light splitting into uniformand non-uniform light fields may be useful—as modulator 912 may thenonly need to generate the bright areas (e.g., highlights) of the imageand the uniform illumination may handle the rest of the required lightby modulator 918.

After receiving the image data, a controller (not shown) may calculatethe uniform light versus non-uniform light percentage and set adjustablepolarizer 905 accordingly. Controller may also control irises 906 r, 906g and 906 b to allow only the light needed to enter the system for eachcolor channel to form the desired image. In another embodiment, it maybe possible to construct the display system to process each colorchannel separately—e.g., where elements 905 onward to 918 may bereplicated to be separately controlled for each color channel.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention, readalong with accompanying figures, that illustrate the principles of theinvention has now been given. It is to be appreciated that the inventionis described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention isnot limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limitedonly by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives,modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details have been setforth in this description in order to provide a thorough understandingof the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of exampleand the invention may be practiced according to the claims without someor all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A projector display system, said displaysystem comprising: a light source; a controller; a light dimmer, saidlight dimmer being controlled by the controller to dim the amount oflight from the light source; a first modulator, said first modulatorbeing illuminated by light from said light dimmer and capable ofmodulating light from said light dimmer under control from thecontroller; said controller further comprising: a processor; a memory,said memory associated with said processor and said memory furthercomprising processor-readable instructions, such that when saidprocessor reads the processor-readable instructions, the instructionscause the processor to perform the following steps: receiving imagedata, said image data comprising Enhanced Dynamic Range (EDR) imagedata; processing the image data to determine global light modulationsettings and an optimal dynamic range window; mapping the image datainto the optimal dynamic range window, the mapping comprising mappingcode values of the image data in a perceptual preservation dynamic rangewindow contained within the optimal dynamic range window withoutclipping or compression and mapping code values of the image data thatare outside of the perceptual preservation dynamic range window with oneor both of clipping and compression; sending control signals to saidlight dimmer such that said light dimmer may allocate a desiredproportion of the light from said light source onto said firstmodulator, said desired portion based on the optimal dynamic rangewindow; and sending control signals to said first modulator such thatsaid desired proportion of the light from said light source is modulatedto form the desired screen image.
 2. The display system of claim 1wherein said light source comprises one of a group, said groupcomprising: a xenon lamp, an arc lamp, a laser, an array of lasers, anarray of solid-state light emitters.
 3. The display system of claim 2wherein said light source comprises an array of lasers wherein saidlasers may be modulated globally and locally.
 4. The display system ofclaim 1 wherein said light dimmer comprises one of a group, said groupcomprising: an adjustable iris and an adjustable light source.
 5. Thedisplay system of claim 4 wherein said first modulator comprises one ofa group, said group comprising: MEMS array, DMD array, a set ofcontrollable analog mirrors and a set of controllable digital mirrors.6. The display system of claim 5 wherein the system further comprises: aset of laser light sources; an adjustable iris, said iris beingilluminated by said laser light sources; and wherein said adjustableiris is illuminated by the combined illumination of said set of laserlight sources.
 7. The display system of claim 5 wherein the systemfurther comprises: a set of colored laser light sources; for each color,a light conduit providing a light path for the corresponding coloredlight from said set of colored laser light sources; for each lightconduit, an adjustable iris capable of adjusting the luminance of itsassociated colored laser light; and a light combiner, said lightcombiner capable of combining each said colored laser light passingthrough each associated adjustable iris.
 8. The projector display systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the instructions cause the processor tocontinuously update minimum and maximum luminance levels of the optimaldynamic range window.
 9. The projector display system according to claim1 wherein the optimal dynamic range window is based on the global lightmodulation settings.
 10. The projector display system according to claim1 wherein the instructions cause the processor to apply temporaldampening to brightness level changes such that successive dynamic rangewindows transition into each other relatively gradually.
 11. Theprojector display system according to claim 1 comprising increasing agradient of the brightness level changes for scene changes.
 12. Theprojector display system according to claim 11 comprising determiningthe scene changes by AI, heuristics.
 13. The projector display systemaccording to claim 1 comprising a feedback loop between a displaymanagement module and a global modulation driver, the feedback loopoperational to continuously select the optimal; dynamic range windowsand the global light modulation settings.
 14. The projector displaysystem according to claim 1 wherein the instructions cause the processorto analyze the image data for a current image frame to determine a colorgamut volume and to set levels of individual primary colors of lightbased on the color gamut volume.
 15. The projector display systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the instructions cause the processor toanalyze a current image frame and one or more other frames before orafter the current image frame to determine maximum illuminationrequirements over time and to smooth transitions of illuminationadjustments over time.
 16. The projector display system according toclaim 1 comprising a global modulation driver configured to control thelight dimmer wherein the global modulation driver is configured toperform laser modulation control as a part of global light modulation.17. The projector display system according to claim 1 wherein theinstructions cause the processor to receive metadata comprisinghistogram data and desired mapping parameters for the image data. 18.The projector display system according to claim 17 wherein the histogramdata comprises histograms for each of a plurality of scenes.
 19. Aprojector display system, said display system comprising: a lightsource; a controller; a light dimmer, said light dimmer being controlledby the controller to dim the amount of light from the light source; afirst modulator, said first modulator being illuminated by light fromsaid light dimmer and capable of modulating light from said light dimmerunder control from the controller; said controller further comprising: aprocessor; a memory, said memory associated with said processor and saidmemory further comprising processor-readable instructions, such thatwhen said processor reads the processor-readable instructions, theinstructions cause the processor to perform the following steps:receiving image data, said image data comprising Enhanced Dynamic Range(EDR) image data; sending control signals to said light dimmer such thatsaid light dimmer may allocate a desired proportion of the light fromsaid light source onto said first modulator; and sending control signalsto said first modulator such that said desired proportion of the lightfrom said light source is modulated to form the desired screen imagewherein the system further comprises: a set of colored laser lightsources; for each color, a light conduit providing a light path for thecorresponding colored light from said set of colored laser lightsources; for each light conduit, an adjustable iris capable of adjustingthe luminance of its associated colored laser light; and a lightcombiner, said light combiner capable of combining each said coloredlaser light passing through each associated adjustable iris wherein thesystem further comprises an integrating rod, said integrating rodaccepting the combined light from all of the colored laser light sourcesand transmitting light to said first modulator.
 20. The display systemof claim 19 wherein the system further comprises an LCD stack placed infront of the integrating rod, said LCD stack capable of modulating lightentering into the integrating rod.
 21. The display system of claim 20wherein the integrating rod is segmented and each segment of theintegrating rod further comprises an associated LCD stack.
 22. Aprojector display system, said display system comprising: a lightsource; a controller; a light dimmer, said light dimmer beingilluminated by said light source and said light dimmer being controlledby the controller to dim the amount of light from the light source; afirst modulator, said first modulator being illuminated by light fromsaid light dimmer and capable of modulating light from said light dimmerunder control from the controller; a second modulator, said secondmodulator being illuminated by light from said first modulator andcapable of modulating said light; said controller further comprising: aprocessor; a memory, said memory associated with said processor and saidmemory further comprising processor-readable instructions, such thatwhen said processor reads the processor-readable instructions, theinstructions cause the processor to perform the following steps:receiving image data, said image data comprising Enhanced Dynamic Range(EDR) image data; sending control signals to said light dimmer such thatsaid light dimmer may allocate a desired proportion of the light fromsaid light source onto said first modulator; and sending control signalsto said first modulator and to said second modulator such that saiddesired proportion of the light from said light source is modulated toform the desired screen image.
 23. The projector display system of claim22 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of colored lightsources and light from said plurality of colored light sources iscombined prior to illuminating said light dimmer.
 24. The projectordisplay system of claim 22 wherein said light source comprises aplurality of colored light sources and light from each of said pluralityof colored light sources illuminates a corresponding light dimmer; andfurther wherein light from each corresponding light dimmer is combinedprior to illuminating said first modulator.
 25. The projector displaysystem of claim 22 wherein said projector display system furthercomprises: an adjustable polarizer, said adjustable polarizer capable ofbeing controlled by said controller to adjust the amount of light to bepolarized; a polarizing beam splitter, said polarizing beam splittercapable of splitting the amount of light to be polarized by saidadjustable polarizer from a main beam of light; and further wherein thelight split by said polarizing beam splitter illuminates said firstmodulator and the light from said first modulator is recombined withsaid main beam of light and the recombined beam illuminates said secondmodulator.